Packaging for button cells

ABSTRACT

A sales or storage packaging for button cells has a holder for several button cells arranged on a carrier and has at least the seller&#39;s designation arranged on the carrier in the form of an adhesive, transparent, printed label attached thereto.

RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of German Patent Application No.DE 102 13 683.1, filed Mar. 27, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a packaging for button cells, having aholder for several cells that is arranged on a carrier, preferably salesor storage packing. The cells are, in particular, zinc-air cells.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Rising consumption of zinc-air button cells, in particular, cellsfor hearing aids, has also elevated the packagings of thesemass-produced items to the rank of a major marketing factor. Theirpackaging must be both economical and have an attractive appearance topromote buying interest.

[0004] Following the example of the tablet packagings used by thepharmaceutical industry, packagings for hermetically sealed button cellsof the rechargeable Ni—Cd-type or basic Ag₂O—Zn and HgO—Zn types thatconsist of, for example, pairs of nested plastic shells, have beenintroduced. One of those shells was subdivided into a circular array ofcompartments for accommodating cells and could be rotated with respectto the other shell such that its compartments could be successivelybrought into coincidence with a dispensing opening in the other shelland the cell involved withdrawn from the compartment.

[0005] However, in the case of zinc-air cells, there arose the specialproblem that the air-inlet openings in their cathode cup must be sealedto prevent ingress of air and exclude moisture until such time as theyare placed in service, i.e., that their packagings must also be suchthat cells may be stored in them.

[0006] A corresponding packaging element is represented by, for example,the press-out packaging described in German Patent Application DE3630926 A1. The cells contained therein are fully protected againstingress of ambient air between a tear-resistant, air-tight, transparentsheet of plastic foil having bowl-shaped blisters and a sheet ofaluminum foil that is bonded to that sheet of plastic foil.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,015,708 discloses a folding box for use as apackaging element for zinc-air cells that incorporates a cardboardcarrier having circular recesses for accommodating button cells whosebases are cemented onto a foil on the reverse side of the carrier.

[0008] Another embodiment of a sales packaging for zinc-air cells isdisclosed in German Patent Application DE 4128248 A1, which depicts asales and storage packaging for zinc-air cells having a carrier to whichthe bases of cells, which are provided with air-inlet openings, arecemented. A transparent plastic cover having bowl-shaped recesses thatessentially conform to the shape of the cells is attached to thecarrier. Cells may be pressed through the carrier immediately prior touse. Another foil that extends into the vicinities of the carrierthrough which cells may be pressed is attached to the carrier. Cells maybe pressed through this latter foil, which is provided with an adhesivecoating, at least at those locations where the bases of cells adhere toit. However, this latter foil remains attached to the carrier aftercells have been pressed through it and peeled off it.

[0009] German Patent Application DE 10162492 A1 describes a packagingfor zinc-air cells where a rotatable insert is arranged between acardboard carrier and a cardboard cover that are cemented together suchthat the insert may be rotated. The cardboard cover has an opening foraccommodating the rotatable insert and the cardboard carrier has areclosable tab through which individual cells may be withdrawn from therotatable insert.

[0010] The carrier for the holder for accommodating zinc-air cells is,in general, marked with the designation of the cell's manufacturer orseller, i.e., in the case of cells for use in hearing aids, with that ofthe hearing-aid dealer.

[0011] It would be advantageous to provide a versatile sales and storagepackaging for button cells that may used by various sellers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] This invention relates to packaging for button cells including acarrier, a holder for a plurality of the button cells, arranged on thecarrier, and a label attached to the packaging, wherein the label isadhesive, transparent, printed and contains at least an identificationof a seller.

[0013] This invention also relates to packaging for button cellsincluding a carrier, a holder for a plurality of the button cells,arranged on the carrier, and a label attached to the carrier, whereinthe label is adhesive, transparent, printed and contains at least anidentification of a seller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Objects of the invention will be discussed in greater detailbelow, based on the figures, which are to be regarded as schematicrepresentations only.

[0015]FIG. 1 depicts the front side of a prospective sale or storagepacking in accordance with aspects of the invention.

[0016]FIG. 2 depicts the reverse side of that same packaging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] It will be appreciated that the following description is intendedto refer to specific embodiments of the invention selected forillustration in the drawings and is not intended to define or limit theinvention, other than in the appended claims.

[0018] According to aspects of the invention, at least the seller'sdesignation is arranged on the carrier or the holder or the packaging inthe form of an adhesive, transparent, printed label. The label can beattached thereto. Zinc/air cells are to be regarded as a particularlypreferred type of button cell in this conjunction. The packaginginvolved may preferably serve as either a sales packaging or a storagepackaging, or both.

[0019] As may be seen from the Figures, the usual contents, inparticular, the usual instructions for use and safety precautions to beobserved, have been applied to its reverse side. The front side of thecarrier 1 supports a rotatable insert 2 that serves as a holder forseveral button cells 3 that may be withdrawn through the tab 4 on thereverse side of the packaging.

[0020] According to the invention, a transparent, printed label 5 thatcontains the name and, perhaps, address or other selected information,of the manufacturer and/or seller of the cells is attached, adhered orcemented to the front side of the carrier 1.

[0021] Employment of a transparent, printed label 5 allows manufacturingsales or storage packagings that have been custom-printed for theparticular hearing-aid dealer involved. Only generic sales and storagepackagings for button cells will need to be manufactured. Packagings maythen be customized by attaching printed labels bearing custominscriptions to packagings once purchase orders have been received fromparticular hearing-aid dealers. Custom inscriptions in the form ofcustom layouts or texts that may be transmitted under computer controlto a label printer/labelling machine that labels generic sale andstorage packagings with transparent, printed labels that are virtuallyvisually indistinguishable from labelling printed directly on thepackagings' cardboard backing may be allocated to each individualpurchase order.

1. Packaging for button cells comprising: a carrier; a holder for aplurality of said button cells, arranged on the carrier; and a labelattached to said packaging, wherein said label is adhesive, transparent,printed and contains at least an identification of a seller.
 2. Thepackaging of claim 1, wherein the holder is rotatably mounted to thecarrier and the carrier has an opening positioned to remove individualbutton cells upon selected rotation of the holder.
 3. The packaging ofclaim 1, wherein the label is attached on a front side of the carrier ina position above the holder.
 4. The packaging of claim 1, wherein thecarrier has an opening in an upper portion thereof sized and shaped toreceive a display hanger, and the label is located between the openingand the holder.
 5. Packaging for button cells comprising: a carrier; aholder for a plurality of said button cells, arranged on the carrier;and a label attached to said carrier, wherein said label is adhesive,transparent, printed and contains at least an identification of aseller.
 6. The packaging of claim 5, wherein the holder is rotatablymounted to the carrier and the carrier has an opening positioned toremove individual button cells upon selected rotation of the holder. 7.The packaging of claim 5, wherein the label is attached on a front sideof the carrier in a position above the holder.
 8. The packaging of claim5, wherein the carrier has an opening in an upper portion thereof sizedand shaped to receive a display hanger, and the label is located betweenthe opening and the holder.